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Options for Relaxing This Holiday Season

November 26, 2011

Mention "The Holidays," and everyone instantly knows what you're talking about. You aren't referring to Easter or Halloween or Flag Day. A lot of holidays take place this time of year, and we sometimes have a tendency to mentally lump them together. For me, things seem to speed up when Thanksgiving hits. Christmas is here before I know it, and New Year’s is right on its heels. This time of year can definitely be a cause for stress, but the arrival of the Holidays also brings with it a kind of solace. Food, family, friends, and faith! We've worked hard all year. It's time to rest from our labors (until it’s time to put presents under the tree, at any rate). What do you do to relax?

Music and storytelling are two passions of mine, and I escape into them more than ever during the winter months. What’s really marvelous is to see them blended together in a production of A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker, for instance. Year’s end also seems to be the perfect time for enjoying some beautiful classical music—at home or via a spellbinding performance. Handel’s Messiah perhaps? Studies suggest that classical music has the ability to improve your mood. Sounds good to me.

The point is this; It’s important to remember to relax, and there are plenty of opportunities to unwind this holiday season. Many options are free or low-cost. Here are a few ideas:

What: Boulevard Brewery TourWhere: Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO.When: OngoingHow Much: Free + the cost of anything you choose to purchase! A great way to get into the spirit of the holidays. Try their Nutcracker Ale. For adults only.

Comments

I posted this early because some people like to have plenty of time to plan their nights out. For me, it's appropriate to talk about Christmas after Thanksgiving, but definitely not beforehand. There's something to be said for taking a moment to be thankful. And Jesus would definitely not approve of his name being used to market goods.

I tried to focus on fun and relatively inexpensive (or free) activities for this reason. Christmas isn't about how much you spend. It's about the time spent with family and friends. It's about appreciating all that you have rather than pining for more, I think.

I'm glad that it is now officially Christmas and people are now starting to talk about it /sarcasm

In all honesty, I love Christmas, it brings my family and I together, but talking about Christmas before Thanksgiving (I even seen advertisements before HALLOWEEN!!) that is a BIT too much.

Besides, every advertisement I have seen about Christmas mentions Jesus Christ exactly 0 times. Not only are we flooded with advertisement after advertisement to purchase and buy, it is done in my saviors name as a way to somehow boost a failing economy...I don't think Jesus would approve of how his name is being used in the name of the almighty dollar...